Enzyme level changes in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with acute stroke

Creatine kinase (CK), brain CK (CKBB), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) levels were determined in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from 35 patients with acute stroke. In patients with transient, minor neurological disturbances, only LD levels increased; in those who remained comatose and died, the levels of all the enzymes, except ASAT, increased. Patients who remained with focal motor defects had increased CK and LD levels, while CKBB and ASAT levels were variable. In most of the CSF samples, muscle CK activity was also detectable, suggestive of a leakage from blood to CSF. The pattern of the enzyme increase could be related to the causative mechanisms for the strokes. The study suggests that CSF enzyme determinations may provide supplementary information as to the extent and severity of brain damage and the recovery potentials of selected patient groups with strokes.